Many people love their air fryers because they make cooking fast and easy. But sometimes, when you try to cook something new, it doesn’t turn out right. It can be confusing to know what works and what doesn’t.
If you’ve wondered about what can not be cooked in an air fryer, you’re not alone. This guide will make it super simple. We’ll walk through it step by step so you can cook with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Certain foods do not cook well in an air fryer due to their consistency or cooking needs.
- Wet batters and breaded items can cause messes and uneven cooking.
- Large roasts or whole birds may not fit or cook evenly in most air fryers.
- Leafy greens can easily blow around and burn in the air fryer basket.
- Air fryers are not ideal for cooking soups, stews, or anything that needs simmering.
- Understanding these limitations helps you choose the right cooking method for your food.
What Can Not Be Cooked In An Air Fryer
Air fryers are amazing kitchen tools. They use hot air to make foods crispy and delicious, often with less oil. It feels like magic!
But like any tool, they have their limits. Knowing what not to put in your air fryer helps you avoid burnt meals, messy kitchens, and wasted food. It’s all about picking the best way to cook each thing.
Foods With Wet Batters
Think about things like tempura or traditional fried chicken where you dip the food in a wet batter before frying. When you put these in an air fryer, the wet batter tends to drip through the basket’s holes. This makes a big mess underneath.
It also means the coating won’t stick well, and you won’t get that nice, even crispy shell you want. The batter can also stick to the basket itself, making cleanup a chore.
Instead of a wet batter, try a dry breading like flour, egg wash, and then panko breadcrumbs. This coating is more likely to stay put. For truly wet batters, a deep fryer or pan-frying might be a better choice.
Certain Cheesy Dishes
While cheese is delicious on many air fryer foods, cooking dishes that are primarily cheese can be tricky. For example, trying to melt a large block of cheese or make cheese sticks that are mostly cheese might not work well. The cheese can melt too quickly and drip into the bottom of the air fryer, creating a sticky mess that’s hard to clean.
It can also burn before the rest of the food is cooked.
Smaller amounts of cheese added towards the end of cooking for toppings are usually fine. But for recipes where cheese is the main event, consider other cooking methods.
Large Cuts of Meat or Whole Poultry
Most home air fryers are quite compact. They are perfect for cooking smaller portions or single servings. If you want to roast a large whole chicken or a big turkey, an air fryer is likely too small.
The food needs space for the hot air to circulate around it properly. If it’s packed in, it will cook unevenly. Some parts will be burnt while others are still raw.
A standard oven is much better suited for large roasts and whole birds. This allows for even cooking and safe temperatures throughout the meat.
Leafy Greens
You might want to make kale chips or other crispy greens. But delicate leafy greens like spinach or kale can be a challenge in an air fryer. The powerful fan in an air fryer can easily blow these light leaves around the basket.
They can get stuck to the heating element or the sides of the basket and burn very quickly. Even if you try to weigh them down, it’s often hard to get them to cook evenly without some of them burning.
For crispy greens, baking them in a single layer on a baking sheet in the oven is a more reliable method.
Soups Stews and Sauces
An air fryer works by circulating hot air. It is designed to crisp up food, not to cook it in liquid. Therefore, anything that is a soup, stew, or sauce needs a method that can hold liquid and simmer it.
An air fryer simply can’t do this. Any liquid will just drip out, and you won’t get the cooking results you expect. You’ll end up with a mess and uncooked food.
These types of dishes are best made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Fresh Bread and Pastries
While an air fryer is great for reheating bread or making things like garlic bread crispy, baking fresh bread from scratch is usually not recommended. The high heat and strong airflow can dry out the bread’s exterior too quickly. It might become hard and crusty on the outside before the inside is cooked through.
Also, dough can sometimes puff up and stick to the basket.
For baking bread, cakes, and pastries, a traditional oven provides a more controlled and gentle environment. It allows for even baking and proper rising.
Foods Requiring Slow Cooking or Steaming
Some foods need gentle, slow cooking to become tender. Think about pot roasts that need hours to break down or delicate items that need to be steamed. An air fryer’s high-heat, fast-cooking method is not suitable for these.
It will likely overcook the outside before the inside is properly tenderized. Similarly, steaming requires water vapor, which an air fryer cannot produce.
For slow-cooked meals, use a slow cooker. For steamed foods, a steamer basket or other steaming methods are the way to go.
Popcorn Kernels
You might think an air fryer could pop popcorn like a machine. However, it’s not designed for this. The kernels need to be heated evenly and quickly to pop.
In an air fryer, the kernels can blow around. They might not get hot enough all at once to pop properly. Some may burn, and you’ll likely end up with a lot of unpopped kernels.
Use a stovetop pot, microwave popcorn bags, or an electric popcorn maker for best results.
Whole Eggs
Cooking whole, uncracked eggs in an air fryer is a bad idea. The pressure from the steam inside the egg can build up. This can cause the egg to crack or even explode inside the air fryer.
This makes a huge mess and is a safety hazard. You can cook hard-boiled or scrambled eggs in an air fryer, but they need to be out of their shells.
Boil eggs in water on the stovetop for a safe and easy method.
Rice and Grains (Unless Pre-Cooked)
Like soups and stews, uncooked rice and many grains need to be cooked in liquid. An air fryer doesn’t have the capability to hold water or cook grains properly. They will just fall through the basket.
While you might be able to reheat already cooked rice or grains, cooking them from scratch is not something an air fryer is designed for.
Use a rice cooker, stovetop, or Instant Pot for your grains.
Very Small or Delicate Items Without a Basket/Tray
If you are trying to cook very small items like peas, corn kernels, or tiny pieces of chopped vegetables without a special accessory like a silicone liner or a perforated tray, they can fall through the air fryer basket. This leads to wasted food and a mess in the bottom of your appliance. Many air fryers come with accessories to prevent this, but if yours doesn’t, be mindful of the size of your ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Can I cook pizza in an air fryer?
Answer: Small pizzas or personal pizzas can often be cooked in an air fryer. However, very large pizzas or those with many toppings might not cook evenly or fit properly. It’s best to check your air fryer’s manual for specific guidance on pizza.
Question: What about French fries? Can they be air fried?
Answer: Yes, French fries are one of the most popular foods to make in an air fryer. They come out wonderfully crispy and golden brown. Fresh-cut or frozen fries both work very well.
Question: Is it safe to put parchment paper in an air fryer?
Answer: Yes, you can use parchment paper designed for air fryers, but make sure it’s weighted down with food. Never preheat the air fryer with just parchment paper inside, as it can catch fire.
Question: Can I make toast in an air fryer?
Answer: While an air fryer can toast bread, it’s often faster and more efficient to use a toaster. If you do toast in an air fryer, keep an eye on it as it can brown very quickly.
Question: Why did my breaded chicken get soggy in the air fryer?
Answer: This can happen if the breading was too wet, or if you overcrowded the basket, preventing air circulation. Ensure your breading is dry and cook in a single layer for best results.
Final Thoughts
Your air fryer is a fantastic kitchen helper for many foods. However, it has limits. Foods with wet batters, large roasts, delicate greens, and liquid-based dishes are not good candidates.
Opting for methods like baking, stovetop cooking, or slow cooking for these items ensures success. Knowing what can not be cooked in an air fryer will make your cooking experience much smoother and more enjoyable. Happy cooking!
Hi, I’m Raju Dey — a food lover with a degree in Culinary Arts from El Centro College. I’ve spent 4+ years testing air fryers, blenders, and other kitchen tools in real home kitchens. At KitchenWink.com, I share honest tips and reviews to help you cook smarter. My goal is to give you advice you can trust — based on hands-on experience, not hype.
